Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if online learning is right for me? Online learning is not for everyone. Although learning is flexible, meaning it allows you to learn in your own environment during a time each week that is convenient for you, it still requires the same type of time commitment as a regular course would. Learners need to be self-motivated, independent students who can understand and follow directions. They should also possess organizational, technical and time management skills, and have adequate time set aside each week to spend on coursework. The more of these qualities a learner possesses, the more successful they tend to be in the online environment.

Will I have a chance to interact with others in my class? Yes! Although the interaction will be different than in a typical classroom setting, it is a key component of online education. Weekly written discussions amongst your classmates and instructor will take place. These discussions will build throughout the week and provide opportunity for you to ask questions, clarify understanding of a topic and offer suggestions to others.

What do I do if I have problems with homework or an assignment? Your instructor will be available to help you with whatever difficulties you might have with the coursework. Weekly office hours will allow you to call them if needed. Other direct, one-on-one help can be obtained through email or the forum.

What type of tech support will be available? Common technical problems and questions along with their solutions will be posted in each course in the Frequently Asked Questions section. Questions and problems not addressed here can be emailed to the course instructor for further assistance.

Note: If you'd like to participate as a student in an online learning environment before enrolling in a full course, consider enrolling in our free, three week Romans Road course. This course has all the features of a full course and would allow you to experience online learning firsthand to determine if it is right for you!

Questions about Full Courses

How will the courses be structured? Courses will have a defined start and end date and will last for eight or ten weeks. A week will begin on Sunday and wrap-up Saturday at midnight (CST). Courses will be limited to twenty students and assigned an online instructor.

How are assignments given? Are there due dates? All coursework including assignments will be provided at the beginning of the course along with a suggested sequence of activities. Assignments will have clear explanations, procedures and due dates. There will be certain activities and assignments that must be completed at the end of each of week. This will help you to stay on track with your work and not fall behind.

How long can I expect to work on coursework each week? You should plan on spending 10-12 hours a week working on coursework. This includes time watching presentations, interacting in the forum, completing homework and participating in all other activities.

Will I have to be online everyday? No. You can decide based on your schedule which days of the week are best for you to complete the online portion of the coursework. You should plan to spend at least three days a week in some type of online activity. Some of this activity will need to be at the beginning of the week so that you can begin discussions with your classmates that will continue throughout the week.

What's a forum and how will it be used? A forum is a place to carry on a discussion with others. Instead of merely emailing thoughts to an individual, a forum provides a public place for you to post your thoughts so that everyone can read them and have the opportunity to respond. One of the advantages of this type of communication is that participants do not have to all be online at the same time. Replies to a post can be added right after it is made or even days later.

How does the waiting list work? When a course opens for enrollment, the number of students allowed to enroll based on the number of online instructors available is set. Once this enrollment is reached, no more students can enroll. You can, however, opt to be put on the waiting list. If a student enrollled in the course drops out, those on the waiting list will be contacted in the order they were added to the list and given the option to enroll in the course.

How much does a course cost? The tuition rate for courses will be $270 for a full course. This is the same tuition rate charged on campus at the Children's Ministries Institute. An additional $60 administrative fee will be charged for each course. As well, some of the courses involve practicums that require a proctor. Proctor fees will be $20-$30 per course.

Can I enroll in individual courses according to my interests? Yes! You can feel free to enroll in whichever course best meets the needs and interests you have. Occasionally courses will have prerequisites that must be met prior to enrollment in them. Otherwise, courses can be taken as desired.

Can I receive credit for online courses? Credit is only awarded for full courses (not for seminars or short courses). Many colleges are partnering with the Children's Ministries Institute to award credit to their students upon completion of the Diploma Program or on campus courses. Many of these same colleges also offer credit for the same online courses. Details must be worked out by the student with the individual college.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are also offered by Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). A CEU is defined as six contact hours of satisfactory participation in an approved course. The CEU is a nationally recognized measurement of non-credit post-secondary level of learning and is used by many professions as a measure of ongoing training that is required to maintain credentials. Professionals in many fields of service, including pastors, Christian school teachers, chaplains, counselors and ministry leaders use CEUs to verify an educational experience to maintain or improve skills.

How can I create a user account? Under the login block on the right side of the screen, you will see a link to Create New Account. You will be asked for basic contact information and for answers to a few questions. You will need to click on a link in your email to confirm your account. This process must be completed before you can enroll in Paid Seminars, the Short Courses, or Full Courses.

I forgot my password. How can I retrieve it? On the right side of the page, under the Login section click on “lost password”. Type in your username OR email address. When you supply a valid username or email address, an email will be sent to you. It contains easy instructions to confirm and complete your password change.

I created a user name, but can’t remember what it is. How can I retrieve it? Your username should automatically come up if you are using the same computer where you created your account. If not, click on "lost password" on the right of the page, under the Login section. Type in your email address. Look at the end of the line containing the link. It will say, http://cmi.cefonline.com/online/login/forgot_password.php?p=a5HdbOk2ls1ZZrg&s=****. Whatever replaces the **** is your username. If you have difficulty, please send an email to the CMI Online Registrar (onlineregistrar@cefonline.com) with your name and email address and she can send you your username.

How do I know when a course is being offered and when the registration for that course is open? Once demonstrations and seminars are live, you can enroll in them at any time. Short Courses and Full Courses will have set registration times. Click on Upcoming Online Courses on the left hand side of the page under Main Menu for updated information.

How can I enroll in a seminar? All seminars are located under Seminars in the Course Category block located to the right of the page. There are three categories.

Teaching to Transform Seminar Series include two seminars that are available free of charge and seven seminars that are available for individuals or groups.

Bible Study includes a free seminar series that will help you learn how to understand and apply Scripture in your own life.

Good News Club Training includes a set of training seminars to help you organize, begin and maintain a Good News Club.

Other Seminars include a variety seminars available to assist you in ministry.

Select the category you desire by clicking on the title to view the seminar. Free Seminars will take you directly to the seminar. Paid seminars will walk you through the registration and payment process. (If you are not already logged in, you will be prompted to do so before registration and payment can be completed. If you have not yet created a user account, you must do so before enrolling in a Paid Seminar.)

NOTE: If you are already logged in, you will need to click on All Courses located at the bottom of the My Courses block in order to select the seminar you desire to take.

How can I enroll in the Romans Road Demo Course? Click on Courses Now Open for Registration on the right under Course Categories. Then click "Enroll Now". You will need to complete the registration process while registration is open for enrollment. (If you are not already logged in, you will be prompted to do so before registration can be completed. If you have not yet created a user account, you must do so before enrolling in the course.)

NOTE: If you are already logged in, you will need to click on All Courses located at the bottom of the My Courses block in order to select the course you desire to enroll in.

How can I enroll in a Full Course? These courses are located under Courses Now Open for Registration in the Course Category block located to the right of the page. Select the course you are interested in and then "Enroll Now". You will need to complete the registration and payment process while registration is open for enrollment. (If you are not already logged in, you will be prompted to do so before registration and payment can be completed. If you have not yet created a user account and submitted an application to the Children's Ministries Institute, you must do so before enrolling in a Full Course.)

NOTE: If you are already logged in, you will need to click on All Courses located at the bottom of the My Courses block in order to select the course you desire to enrolll in.

How do I access my seminar or course after I've enrolled in it? Login with your username and password as soon as you arrive at the site. Once you do this, you will see a My Courses block on the right side of the page. All of the courses you are currently enrolled in will be shown in this block - simply select the one you desire to go to. To see other courses that are currently available, you can click on All Courses at the bottom of the My Courses block and browse the listings and enroll in new seminars or courses.

Can you ensure that my online payment is secure? Yes! We maintain compliance with high quality security programs developed by the card associations, such as Visa Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP) and MasterCard Site Data Protection (SDP); and are continually investing time and money to maximize the security surrounding the payment gateway.